MAUI, HAWAII—OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels recently hosted Youth Ambassadors at OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort as part of the expanded Sea The Future initiative, originally founded in Hawai‘i in 2018 and now entering a new phase that brings together young leaders from across the Pacific to champion ocean stewardship through education, cultural exchange and hands-on conservation.
The initiative spans the Pacific Ocean, West to East, through a new partnership between Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania (HTO) and the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB). This year’s program gathered Youth Ambassadors from Seattle, Australia, New Zealand and Hawai‘i for a five-day immersive experience on Maui from September 19 to 23. The program is curated by New Zealand’s acclaimed non-profit Sea Cleaners, which has partnered with Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania on Sea The Future since 2018.
A highlight of the program was International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 20, a global movement where volunteers joined together to protect our ocean and shorelines. Hawaiian Airlines and the Youth Ambassadors joined the effort, inspiring others to protect our oceans by cleaning the coastline in their own communities. OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels employees also volunteered in hands-on conservation activities across its properties over the weekend, including beach cleanups, marine debris removal and in partnership with the Genki Ala Wai Project they created thousands of Genki Balls—mud balls infused with effective microorganisms designed to cleanse the Ala Wai Canal.
Additional activities for the Youth Ambassadors included workshops, beach cleanups, school visits and a farewell event with the New Zealand Consul General in Honolulu.
An Extension of Company Values
“As a hospitality brand that has long pioneered responsible tourism practices across its global portfolio, OUTRIGGER embraces Sea The Future as an extension of its company-wide sustainability values and corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments,” said Monica Salter, Vice President of Global Communications & Social Responsibility at OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group.
Since launching the OUTRIGGER Zone initiative in 2014, OUTRIGGER has advanced coral reef preservation, marine debris reduction and ocean literacy through purposeful partnerships and programming.
“Sea The Future is about empowering the next generation to take action and inspiring communities across the Pacific to protect the ocean we all share,” said Darragh Walshe, Tourism Director at Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania. “Through this partnership with Sea Cleaners, HVCB, Hawaiian Airlines and OUTRIGGER, we are demonstrating the strength of collaboration across borders. The Youth Ambassadors from Hawai‘i, New Zealand, Australia and the United States embody the spirit of connection and responsibility that lies at the heart of this initiative.”
Supported by OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania, the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau and local nonprofit Love the Sea, Sea The Future brings together young Pacific leaders to champion a shared cause.
To learn more about the New Zealand company making a difference across the Pacific, visit seacleaners.com.
